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| Madagascar army storms presidency | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Explosions and gunfire have been heard in the centre of Madagascar's capital after the army stormed a residence of President Marc Ravalomanana. | |
| It came hours after opposition leader Andry Rajoelina called for the security forces to arrest the president. | It came hours after opposition leader Andry Rajoelina called for the security forces to arrest the president. |
| The self-declared head of the armed forces had earlier declared his support for the opposition. | |
| Mr Ravalomanana is in another palace, about 10km (six miles) from the centre of Antananarivo. | |
| Protests, looting and a mutiny have resulted from the unrest that has left at least 100 people dead since January. | |
| Earlier on Monday, the embattled president again proposed a referendum to resolve the seven-week political crisis. CRISIS TIMELINE Dec 2006: Marc Ravalomanana (r) re-elected as president31 Jan 2009: Opposition's Andry Rajoelina (l) says he is in charge3 Feb: Rajoelina sacked as mayor of Antananarivo; protests intensify8 Feb: Security forces fire on opposition rally leaving 28 dead11 March: Dissident troops oust army chief15 March: Ravalomanana proposes to hold referendum16 March: Rajoelina calls for president's arrest class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7946147.stm">Madagascar views on power struggle class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7944606.stm">Crisis isolates president class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7935682.stm">Q&A: Madagascar in crisis class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7943820.stm">Madagascar's 'young pretender' | |
| Mr Ravalomanana, who was democratically re-elected for a second term in office in 2006, has previously said he wants to remain in office until his mandate expires in 2011. | |
| But the opposition leader rejected Mr Ravalomanana's plebiscite plan and called for him to be arrested. | |
| Mr Rajoelina said: "The people are thirsty for change and that's why we won't have a referendum and will put our transitional government in place." | Mr Rajoelina said: "The people are thirsty for change and that's why we won't have a referendum and will put our transitional government in place." |
| The BBC's Jonah Fisher in Antananarivo says Mr Rajoelina has wrapped himself in the cloak of democracy, but he wants to replace an elected head of state without going to a ballot. | The BBC's Jonah Fisher in Antananarivo says Mr Rajoelina has wrapped himself in the cloak of democracy, but he wants to replace an elected head of state without going to a ballot. |
| The opposition leader, a 34-year-old former disc jockey, says the president is a tyrant who misspends public money. | |
| But Mr Ravalomanana's supporters say his rival is a young troublemaker who has not offered any policy alternatives. | |
| Under President Ravalomanana, Madagascar's economy has opened up to foreign investment, particularly in the mining sector. | |
| But 70% of the 20 million population still lives on less than $2 (£1.40) a day and correspondents say the opposition has tapped into popular frustration at the failure of this new wealth to trickle down. | |
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